Cravings Suck!

[justme__]

Hi, I am new here. I have been on pain pills for 9 years on and off... I have lots of health problems, cysts, endometriosis, kidney stones.... Im just not a very healthy person... Lately ive been taking norcos 5/325 and Somas... and I was taking them every day, even when I didn't need them because I felt like I couldn't function without them. It was part of my daily routine. So anyway, I started feeling very bad respiratory depression so I stopped taking them 3 days ago... Today is my third day and I feel like I want to cry. Im really emotional, and depressed... and I leave my pills at home now so that I cant get to them (hardly ever home)... when do the cravings stop?? Please help. Thanks!

[broknbck]

sorry to hear that.

the pills have really messed with our brains. amino acids are exellent for healing the brain and i think they have helped me quite a bit. and pretty inexpensive too.

[FriaryGrad]

Oh, I can totally relate to cravings and relapse. I had two official, major relapses and both were situations where I simply couldn't NOT drink, not then. Both times, for that screwy reason that only makes sense to another alcoholic, knowing that I am powerless over alcohol, I thought I could think my way out of a relapse. I was going to have a brief "lapse" just to stop the immediate pain, then quit again immediately. Right. Didn't work then, wouldn't work now. I can't drink. But after I went to rehab (again; they must get tired of the same old faces) I was diagnosed as having depression (I had lied on previous screenings) and started on Lexapro.  And the cravings stopped. Of course there was that 378 straight days of AA that also helped a lot.  But its the freedom from cravings that keeps me sober.  I only have the freedom, because I don't have the cravings.  I hate the fact that I could start having cravings again, but I am focusing on what I DO have without alcohol (freedom from cravings) instead of what I don't have by giving up drinking (a quick buzz, or instant relaxation). Meditation is better; alcohol is quicker. I'm very lucky, though.  Finally, that is.

[justme__]

Thank you all so much. I already feel really good about my decision. I joined a gym and I am going to start working out come Monday to try and make my muscles and heart healthier so that I maybe wont have so many health problems. I started taking the pills when I was 12 cause endometriosis and my mom used to give them to me. But day 3 I just feel so irritated, emotional... physically my muscles ache and I have headaches. If I do relapse, I will feel terrible but I will write about it if I happen to. I hope not to dissapoint anyone though!! You have already been a great help..

[worried878]

Impressed that people can never have cravings anymore...very inspirational friar...but the fact is many do and for quite a while after quitting and is the number one reason for relapse...depression probably leads to these cravings for many...it passes with time while our brain's heal....we will be there with friar one of these days  (:

[marcatj]

cravings DO suck.  and after 9 years, i think it would be a good idea to consider getting some outside help.

cravings are very tough for those who haven't used for long... so they will hit you.  they just do. because you are so used to the pills.

but you can beat this.  but please consider getting some outside help (AA/NA meetings, counseling, an addiction specialist - something!) so your chances of long term success are the best they can be.

sorry if this post is a bummer... it's just the nature of the beast... and i think it's better to be informed.  but maybe you already know all this stuff...

i wish you very, very well...
mj

[FriaryGrad]

I agree that cravings suck.  I'm an alcoholic, and I'd match my cravings against anyone's in the world.  I'm talking about digging in the garbage hope to find an eyedroppers worth of alcohol, and thinking its better than nothing.  I would get horrible - unbearable - cravings when I was only running low on alcohol -- it was so psychological with me that I didn't have to run out and start physical withdrawal to have cravings I felt no one in the world could understand. But then I went to rehab and found out that other women, my age (at that time early 50's) who worked all day at good jobs, also waited outside convenience stores for it to be 6:00 a.m., carried alcohol in our purses (one woman was the wife of the commander of an army base, who could carry l2 - l5 beers in her purse at one time - just in case she needed one). What is SO wonderful about finally getting clean and sober - and I have almost 4 years - is that I NEVER have cravings anymore. Never. I am lucky, I know, and I went to rehab and 378 straight days of AA, and I began taking antidepressants because I realized that I had been self medicating.  But the cravings have totally gone. I can be around alcohol all day, every day -- heck, I could be a bartender, and I wouldn't be tempted to touch alcohol.  That's how gone my cravings are.  I will never pick up the first drink ever again, or those horrible cravings will kill me.  I'm sorry you're having a bad time, and I hope you'll go to NA or AA and chart with some of the members. I know it will help you.  And I will pray for you, too.  It's works best of all.....

[joann1975]

Welcome to the forum! You will find you are not alone here....lots of support and information!

Congrats on the 3 days... from my understanding going cold turkey will last you about 5-7 days of the physical part...mental and cravings can last longer! It is great you are ready to get your life back....it will be so much better off the pills!!!!

On the right side of the screen there are Health Pages...click on those and you will find a wealth of information. The Thomas Recipe is good when you are going cold turkey and the Amino Acid protocol is great as well....all that stuff helps your body rebuild what the drugs robbed of it.

You will be able to do this...just stick to it...it can get rough at times... but it's worth it! You may even use your  journal so if you consider wanting to use again or give into a craving ... read that to remind yourself of what you went through to get clean!

Also, post all you want!!! It really helps.....if you have questions feel free to PM me!
JoAnn

[cathy5841]

the cravings do last for awhile but they get farther apart and less intense as time goes on.  stick with it.  3 days is great.  you can do if it you just concentrate on 1 minute or hour at a time.  hang in there and know it does get better.  and welcome to the forum...

[newmanagment]

hey, im not an expert on pills, but ya are gonna have cravings for some time. they are controlable tho!! try reading in the health pages, upper right. it has a craving list in there i believe. i am a coke addict, so i feel ya on the cravings. but the will get easier i promise. welcome to the forum, stick around an see how it can help ya kick it!